10/15/2026
A message from our Executive Director:
💙 What a whirlwind this past month has been!
Two major fundraisers, a press conference, the start of a new grant, preparing to hire another staff member, over 20 presentations, and countless community outreach activities! To say it’s been busy would be an understatement. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything! ❤️
And this week has been another reminder of WHY I do what I do.
On Tuesday, we held our monthly Victim Impact Panel. These panels are always emotional, but they are also incredibly rewarding. We had over 30 people in attendance who heard firsthand from victims and families about how impaired driving has forever changed their lives.
This week, David shared a letter he had written to Andrea after she passed away. It was a letter I had never heard before, and he asked me to read it aloud to the group.
I can’t even begin to describe how difficult it was to get through those words. The love, the loss, the heartbreak, and the unimaginable pain of a father who lost his daughter. Every word carried so much emotion. It was a reminder that behind every statistic, every impaired driving crash, and every life lost, there are families whose lives will never be the same. A father’s love doesn’t end when his daughter’s life does, and neither does the heartache of losing her. 💔
But one of the other powerful parts of these panels is when individuals attending begin sharing their own stories. They talk about the day they were arrested, the decisions they made, and how those decisions have impacted their lives and the people around them. Those conversations are not always easy, but they matter. They create opportunities for accountability, understanding, and hopefully, change.
Tonight, I had the opportunity to participate in Project Safe Neighborhoods Reentry, where more than 200 individuals who were recently released from prison or placed on felony probation came together to learn about navigating life with a felony conviction.
They learned about the dos and don’ts, expectations, responsibilities, and consequences. But more importantly, they learned about the resources available to them and met agencies and organizations that genuinely want to see them succeed.
Because everyone deserves an opportunity to make better choices, rebuild their lives, and move forward.
I was having a conversation with someone tonight, and I shared something that really sums up how I feel.
What I do is so much more than a job. It’s my passion. It’s my purpose. And I absolutely LOVE what I do. ❤️
Whether it’s helping prevent someone from getting behind the wheel impaired, educating young people before they make a life-changing decision, supporting families who have experienced unimaginable loss, or connecting someone with the resources they need for a second chance, every single piece of this work matters.
Some days are exhausting. Some days are emotional. Some days I wonder how we’re going to get everything done. But then there are moments like these that remind me exactly why it’s all worth it.
I don’t do this work for recognition. I do it because I truly believe we can change lives, strengthen our communities, and make the world a little better, one person, one conversation, and one opportunity at a time.
And if I can make a positive difference in even one person’s life, then every long day and late night is worth it. 🤟
P.S. I love you 🤟💙
Shanna James
